BENGALURU: Alleging harassment by seniors at work, a 33-year-old woman police sub-inspector attempted suicide in Vijayanagar on Tuesday evening.
The PSI, Roopa Tembad, overdosed on paracetamol pills. Sources said she told her colleagues that she would kill herself just like DySP Ganapathy did recently. The 2009-batch officer is a sub inspector at Vijayanagar police station.
Around 4.30pm on Tuesday, following an argument with inspector Sanjeev Gowda at work, Roopa is said to have left the station in a huff on her bike, threatening to kill herself. She allegedly consumed 23 paracetamol tablets. She was on duty and in her uniform when she consumed the pills, sources said.
Out of concern for her safety, a police constable followed her and saw her collapse in front of the police quarters where she was headed. She was immediately rushed to a hospital.
Roopa, a native of Gopanala grama in Davangere, is the mother of a three-year-old. Her husband Nataraj is a native of Ranebennur and an advocate.
Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Charan Reddy said preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was followed by an argument between Roopa and a senior official.
Sources said that Roopa had entered a complaint in the station diary against inspector Sanjeev Gowda and had also said that she was going to the Commissioner’s office to file a complaint.
Sources said the argument was regarding a missing mobile phone related to a case registered at the station. The inspector with whom Roopa had a quarrel allegedly found her using the phone. When he asked her about it, she told him that she did not know where the phone was.
Incidentally, inspector Gowda was under suspension and had returned to work just three days ago.
Charan Reddy said a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the incident. Police officials added that there has been no death note found at the moment.
Roopa’s family in Davangere was informed about the incident and they were on their way to Bengaluru, officials said.
According to Dr Ravindra, Medical Director at Suguna Hospital where the PSI is undergoing treatment, she is in ICU but her condition is stable. She would be kept under observation in the ICU for some more time.
Meanwhile, Roopa’s colleagues are shocked over the incident.
They said she is a jovial person. They are also dismissing any possibility of the inspector misbehaving with her, saying he is a reasonable official.
“Suicide is not the answer. All departments have problems,” a police official attached to the station told Express.
Meanwhile, DCP (North), T R Suresh and DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil visited the spot. In the absence of DCP (West) Ajay Hilory, Sandeep Patil would be in-charge of the case.